Props to God and to Caesar

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have, for the entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Devotions: Ps 30, 32, 42, 43; Josh 6:1-14; Rom 13:1-7; Mt 26:26-35

I will extol You, Lord, for You have healed and saved me. Joy comes in the morning—and it’s morning! I thank you for whatever this day holds, and for Your love in carrying me through. You have turned my mourning (and my morning) into dancing. YHWH my God, I thank You forever. Blessed are all whose sins God has forgiven; to be forgiven, I must confess, so I freely confess my transgressions to You, my God. You are my Hiding Place, and Your peace surrounds me with grace. Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Let the upright shout for joy! YHWH, I long for You with a deep thirst and hunger; I must turn my soul’s focus from the troubles of the day to my God. Hope in God! Lord, vindicate me; send out Your light and truth to lead me home to You, and I will abide in the joy of the Lord.

Jericho was tightly closed against the Israelites. But YHWH told Joshua, ‘Behold, I have given Jericho into your hands.’ And God told Joshua what to do: 'Daily for seven days, send seven priests sounding ram horns leading those who bear the ark of God’s covenant, and let them and all the people process around the city walls. Do this once on each of the first six days. Then on the seventh day, circle the city seven times. At the end of the seventh circuit, have the priests give a long blast on the ram’s horns, and let all the people shout with a great shout. And at that, the walls of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight before him.’ Joshua passed these instructions along to the priests and the people. He cautioned them to be silent until he told them to shout. They did this for six days—one lap behind the trumpets and the ark, then back to camp.

Paul counseled the Roman Christians: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities. Their authority has its origins in God; the authorities serve by His will. So whoever resists the authorities resists God’s will. Rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do what is good, and the appointed authorities will approve you. Do wrong, and you have reason to fear: those in power bear the sword at God’s appointment, and execute His judgment on wrongdoers. So subject yourselves, first to obey God, and second to avoid punishment. Pay whatever is due—taxes, revenue, respect and honor—to those to whom each is due.

As Jesus and His apostles were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take. Eat. This is My body.’ And He took a cup of wine; when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of this, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ When the meal was over, the group sang a hymn, and left the upper room and went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus said to the apostles, ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night; as it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I Am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.’ Peter objected: ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will not.’ Jesus told him, ‘I tell you the truth, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter tried again: ‘Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You.’ The rest of the disciples said the same.